Improvement in expolsive projectiles



J. M. CON'NEL.

Shell.

Patenitd Febp3, 1 863-.

'Uwrrsn ST TES J. M. CONNEL, OF

PATENT Orrrcn.

NEXVARK, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXPOLSIVE PROJEOTILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,565, dated February 3, lt'l'fl.

.T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,J. M. CONNEL, of Newark, in the county ofLicking and State ofOhio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in plosive Projectiles for Ordnance; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a projectile as improved by me. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the projectile through two of the gas-flutes. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through two of the beads or ribs which form the flutes. Fig. 5 is a transverse section in the line a; x of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the projectile, the lead packing and its seat not being applied to it.

The same letters of reference in each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

My invention may be stated as follows:

First. In combination with a projectile which has longitudinal gas-con ductin g flutes in the rear of its circumference and-leading under the lead packing, my invention consists in having the beads or ribs which form theflutes to gradually decrease in height 011 an inclined line from the rear end to near the center of the length of the projectile.

Second. In combination with the flutes and inclined beads, my invention consists in a loosely-fitted slotted seat for the lead packing to set upon when it, is cast around the proj ectile.

Third. In combination with the flutes, inclined beads, and slotted seat, my invention consists in narrow radial lugs projecting out in line with the longitudinal center of the inclined beads from the circumference of the projectile.

Fourth. In combination with a double-chambered projectile made in one piece and constructed with flutes and inclined beads, my invention consists in the use of a trail-exploding magazine for igniting the contents of the two chambers almost simultaneously.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to dcscribe the same with reference to the drawmgs.

A is a cast-iron projectile with a conical front end and a spherical rear end, and with a front charge-chamber, I3, and a rear chargechamber, 0, the two chambers being separated by a transverse partition, D, through the center of which a small hole, a, is cut. The apex of the projectile has a circular aperture leading into the chamber 13, formed in it. Into this aperture a screw-plug, b, is fitted, said plug extending into the aperture about one-half the length of the aperture. Shoulders c d are provided for the support of a central guide-tube, c, said tube having a trail-maga zine, f, fitted snugly in it, as shown, the trailmagazine carrying on its front end a nipple with cap, and extending a suitable distance into the rear chamber, 0. As the ofifices and operation of the shoulders, the guide-tube, and the exploding-trail magazine are the same in the shell herein shown as they, are in the projectile patented to myself in conjunction with J ch11 S. Hall, it is unnecessary to describe the same more particularly here.

The circumferential configuration of the rear half, or thereabout, of the projectile will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawings, flutes g 9 being formed from the center of the spherical end to near the center of the length of the projectile, and the beads 7th, which form the flutes, being of a gradually-deereasin g depth from the highest rear point, i, of the projectile to the lowest central point, 3, thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. By thus having the beads to diminish, a continuous circular shoulder, is, is formed at the forward termination of the flutes and beads, said shoulder serving for the lead packing Zto bind against, as shown. The beads also present an opposing incline to that which they, together with a circular taper seat, m, cause the lead to present on its under sur face, and thus the very important result of having the forward motion of the projectile always tend to force the lead packing outward, notwithstanding the tendency of the frictional contact of the lead with the circumference of the gun is to crowd the lead packing in-an opposite direction.

In order to prevent the lead packing from slipping round on the projectile, short narrow lugs 02. a project out from the circumference of the projectile. These lugs are near the center of the length of the projectile, and are in line with the longitudinal center of the beads h h.

The taper cylindrie seatm, upon which the lead is cast, is slotted, as shown at 0 0, Fig. 5,

in order to admit the lugs 01. a through it when shoulder, in connection with'the' shoulder 75,

Fig. 3, confines the lead packing in proper position and condition. The flutes of the inner circumference of the ring, in conjunction with the flutes of the projectile, maintain the passages for the powder-gas to circulate in.

The operation is as follows: The projectile being placed in a cannon in front of a charge of powder, when the explosion occurs in rear of the projectile the expanding-gas will flow under the seat and lead through the flutes, and by its expansive action force or distend the lead packing-ring sufficiently to insure the impression of the spiral grooving of the cannon in its surface, and consequently the rotation of the projectile in its flight through the air. This result by means of the agency of flutes in a projectile I do not'claim, al-

though it was an original invention with me but in the use of such flutes, in connection with inclined beads, lugs, and a packing-seat, I have discovered that the distention of the lead packing can always be maintained, inasmuch as the inclined planes of the projectile act in opposition to the incline presented by the lead, and the motion of the projectile, or, rather, the iron the former not being subjected to that frictional contact with the gun which the latter necessarily is subjected to.

I do not claim a projectile with flutes which conduct the powder-gas under the lead packing, irrespective of a particular construction of the beads or ribs which form the flutes. Nor do I claim, separately considered, the principle of expanding the lead packing by means of an incline unfluted surface. Nor do I claim a seat for the lead packing, separately considered. Nor do I claim stops to prevent the rotation of the lead packing, irrespective of their arrangement and combination with the projectile described and shown. Nor do I claim the sliding magazine, nor itsarrangement within a projectile of different circumferential configuration than the one herein described; but

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to I secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Expanding the packing Z by a combination of the forceof the expanding-gas and of the resisting action of separated incline planes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The inclined beads or ribs having flutes between them. in combination with a loosely-. fitted expansible seat, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

J. M. OONNEL.

\Vitnesses:

GUSTAVUS DIETERIOH, E. S. JACOB.

portion of it, is somewhat quicker than the motion of the lead packing, 

